Darby Bible
2 Corinthians 3:5
5not that we are competent of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our competency [is] of 1God;
2 Corinthians 3:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
- New International Version (NIV)Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
Context of 2 Corinthians 3:5
3being manifested to be Christ's epistle ministered by us, written, not with ink, but [the] Spirit of [the] living God; not on stone tables, but on fleshy tables of [the] heart. 4And such confidence have we through the Christ towards God: not that we are competent of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our competency [is] of God; 6who has also made us competent, [as] ministers of [the] new covenant; not of letter, but of spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens. 7(But if the ministry of death, in letters, graven in stones, began with glory, so that the children of Israel could not fix their eyes on the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his face, [a glory] which is annulled;
Read all of 2 Corinthians 32 Corinthians 3:5 word by word
οὐχ ὅτι ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί ἐσμεν λογίσασθαί τι ὡς ἐξ ἑαυτῶν, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ ἱκανότης ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ,Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 3:5
- 2 Corinthians 2:16to the one an odour from death unto death, but to the others an odour from life unto life; and who [is] sufficient for these things?
- 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:
- Exodus 4:10And Moses said to Jehovah, Ah Lord! I am not eloquent, neither heretofore nor since thou hast spoken to thy servant, for I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue.
- John 15:5I am the vine, ye [are] the branches. He that abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for [my] power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell upon me.
- Exodus 4:11And Jehovah said to him, Who gave man a mouth? or who maketh dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? [have] not I, Jehovah?
- Jeremiah 1:6And I said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! behold, I cannot speak; for I am a child.
- Matthew 10:19But when they deliver you up, be not careful how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given to you in that hour what ye shall speak.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your opposers shall not be able to reply to or resist.
- Luke 24:49And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but do ye remain in the city till ye be clothed with power from on high.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6I have planted; Apollos watered; but God has given the increase.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10But by God's grace I am what I am; and his grace, which [was] towards me, has not been vain; but I have laboured more abundantly than they all, but not I, but the grace of God which [was] with me.
- Philippians 2:13for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working according to [his] good pleasure.
- Philippians 4:13I have strength for all things in him that gives me power.
- James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves - We do not arrogate to ourselves any power to enlighten the mind or change the heart, we are only instruments in the hand of God. Nor was it possible for us apostles to think, to invent, such a scheme of salvation as is the Gospel; and if we even had been equal to the invention, how could we have fulfilled such promises as this scheme of salvation abounds with? God alone could fulfill these promises, and he fulfils…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves - This is evidently designed to guard against the appearance of boasting, or of self-confidence. He had spoken of his confidence; of his triumph; of his success; of his undoubted evidence that God had sent him. He here says, that he did not mean to be understood as affirming that any of his success came from himself, or that he was able by his own strength to accomplish the great things which had been effected by…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6The old written covenant refers to the law of Moses as interpreted by Jewish rabbis. It results in death for those who see it as a path to salvation. The law is good (Romans 7:12–14), but those who try to earn merit through it fail. Earning merit through the law leads to either wrongdoing or pride. In both cases, the law brings condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. The Greek is, "Not that we are (even yet after so long experience as ministers) sufficient to think anything OF ourselves as (coming) FROM ourselves; but our sufficiency is (derived) FROM God." "From" more definitely refers to the source out of which a thing comes; "of" is more general. to think--Greek, to "reason out" or "devise"; to attain to sound preaching by our reasonings [Theodoret]. The "we" refers here to ministers (2Pe 1:21). anything--even…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 3:5
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. 2 Corinthians 3:5 3.5 Elohim ↩
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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